Go Lean, Gain Strength

Sourcing the right products for installation can save people money

Cost-saving measures during a security installation usually focus on steps that minimize waste on the job site: reducing packing, speeding deployment and decreasing go-backs. But there’s one area that can help eliminate waste on the job site before the purchase orders have even been finalized. It’s called sourcing and it’s one of the most important tools in a security integrator’s repertoire. Done right, sourcing the right products can reduce training time, free up skilled workers’ time and improve the overall quality of the installation.

STARTING OFF RIGHT

Typically, before a project is secured or an order is placed, sourcing can include many aspects, such as supplier management, product specification, selection, quality, inventory and availability. The allows installers to know exactly what materials are right for the applications and overall project. In the physical security industry, technologies are constantly and rapidly evolving. To source the right products for a project, it is essential to stay on top of emerging technologies and new products. However, staying on the cutting edge of the industry requires a substantial investment of time and resources in order to stay competitive.

MORE PRODUCTS. MORE MANUFACTURERS.

As new technologies develop, knowing which technology from which manufacturer is right for the job becomes a greater challenge. With the days of a single-manufacturer solution gone, many systems are now comprised of products from a variety of manufacturers, and that has led to hundreds of manufacturers in recent years offering products to handle niche challenges.

Maintaining relationships with manufacturers and participating in industry associations such as ONVIF to learn about emerging standards is the best way to stay current on what is new, and what is working, in the market. Sourcing can let security installers use fewer resources on site by reducing the number of employees needed to install a product, improve the overall quality of the installation, minimize troubleshooting and allow for quicker installation. In fact, streamlining a project through effective sourcing can save time and money and can result in more profit and more time to secure additional projects. According to a recent study from McGraw Hill, 70 percent of contractors say that decreases in project schedules help them win bids. Other studies show that reducing nonproductive labor by 5 percent can increase profits by nearly 20 percent.

In order to become leaner, it’s crucial to look at each stage in the life of project and uncover the practices that slow you down. Every organization and project is unique, but based on decades of experience Anixter has providing a variety of solutions across different markets, these are the eight practices that stand out.

EIGHT PRACTICES THAT WASTE TIME AND MONEY

Sorting through manufacturers and technologies. The investment involved in staying on top of not only the products currently available but also what technology is on the horizon can be daunting for anyone. This expertise is crucial to providing the best solutions to meet customers’ needs.

Purchasing proprietary products for the job. Understanding products and their potential is as important as being clear about how products work together and in a variety of environments. Ensuring interoperability before implementation saves time and money in the long run.

Ordering out of stock products. This can cause issues in two ways: one is the time involved waiting on products to come into stock and the second are the costs associated with holding excess inventory.

Managing countless manufacturers and orders. Beyond product selection in a multi-manufacturer environment, there is a practical operational cost associated with managing dozens of orders and supplier relationships, which increases the potential for risk and errors.

Lining up deliveries. Most integrators know the feeling of sitting on a job site waiting for a shipment to arrive. Unexpected delays and poor coordination can extend project timelines and cause labor costs to soar.

Sorting through packages on site. Depending on the size of a project, dozens of hours of time that could have been spent on implementation are instead spent on tasks such as making sure the correct products are in the correct locations and excess waste is removed.

Assembling technology on site. Due to technical complexity in the security industry, so much time is spent putting products together onsite that could otherwise be done beforehand. Everything from IP testing, camera preassembly and kitting could make installations shorter and simpler as well as improving cash flow.

Beginning orders from scratch. Plenty of e-business solutions are designed to save time and money including order processing, status and performance reporting. However, B2B integration is crucial. It holds the potential for inventory replenishment and control systems for storerooms.

PARTNERING WITH A SUPPLY CHAIN EXPERT

Anixter approaches sourcing by employing technical experts around the globe who continually earn industry certifications, participate in associations and contribute to the development of industry standards. The center of this expertise is the Infrastructure Solutions Lab, which researches, tests and evaluates products to help customers meet their application challenges.

Anixter’s customizable Supply Chain Solutions are designed to help focus on an integrator’s core competencies to stay competitive in the marketplace: improving supply chain visibility, enhancing labor efficiencies, educing inventory carrying cost, increasing working capital, addressing sustainability requirements, and saving time with kitting and preprogramming services.

This article originally appeared in the July 2016 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.